The Foresight of Faith

If we could only see what God sees and know what God knows in foresight, we would not stress or doubt. Moses had to face this same issue. He obeyed God by going to the people of Israel and telling them how God had met with him and told him to go to Pharaoh and saying let Israel go.

God even gave Moses three signs to back up his bold claims. He had a staff that when thrown on the ground would turn into a snake. When Moses reached out to grab the snake it would turn back into a staff. Moses also could put his hand inside his coat and it would come out leprous. When Moses put the hand back in the cloak it came back out normal. Moses performed a third sign by taking water from the Nile River and pouring it on the ground where it turned into blood.

When the people of Israel heard all this they believed. Moses believed. That is until Moses and Aaron when to talk to Pharaoh. Things did not go according to plan. Pharaoh became angry and refused to give the people straw for making bricks while not decreasing their production quota. In essence things got worse rather than better after Moses obeyed. [Ex 5:1-23]

The people of Israel complained and rejected Moses' leadership. Moses questioned why God had called him to a task God was not blessing. All this reaction because neither Moses or Israel had foresight. They had no way of knowing what God intended to do and the miraculous ways God would work. Ten plagues were on the horizon. God knew this. God knew how Pharaoh would react to Moses's obedience and God had a plan. Moses did not have the foresight to know the plan so in a moment of weakness he doubted.

Who can blame him. Don't we do the same thing. We hear the Lord call us to do something and when we obey and it turns out badly we are thrown for a loop. We start doubting God and His plans. We all must live with the foresight of faith. We cannot predict the future with any certainty. Life has many surprise twists and turns. We can only follow in faith. It is that very faith that gives us confidence to hear from God and believe Him completely no matter how things look. With the foresight of faith we can keep following, withstand trials, and stay the course to completion.

Many times in my life I wish I had operated with the foresight of faith. I would not have stressed about provision. I would not have feared those steps of faith. I would have trusted God in the bleakest seasons knowing how things would work out eventually.

All I can see right now in this moment is this computer screen and my office. I can see through a small window but I am blind to all the things happening outside this door and around the community. God sees all. At times He chooses to reveal His plans for us which requires faith for us to believe. We then choose to move forward in trust or to retreat in fear.

There have been times when I moved forward in faith and it did not turn out like I planned. I started CentrePointe Community Church in faith but it still disbanded four years later. Things went from bad to worse as we waited on God for the next eighteen months to open a door for us into another ministry. That year and a half we suffered. Doors closed on other churches to pastor. We lived at times day to day trusting God for money for groceries, tanks of gas, and to pay bills. From that perspective I doubted God for a long time. Financially Brenda and I lived near poverty. We were stressed. God always came through. I remember drives alone so I could cry without Brenda and the boys knowing it.

If I could have seen with foresight all God would do, I would reacted to those circumstances differently. God preserved me for the Paradise community knowing one day I would start Faith Community Church here. God would use the painful lessons of CentrePointe Community Church to teach me how to start Faith Community Church and to avoid making some of the same mistakes. God used those lean financial years to prepare Brenda and I to take a cut in pay but to trust God to provide for us anyway which He has.

I want to live with the foresight of faith. Right now I face dozens of issues I cannot see the outcome with my physical eyes. With the foresight of faith I already know the outcome of each issue. All I have to do is rest in faith knowing God is at work in His way and in His time. I have to trust Him. I have come to know from first hand experience the truth of [Rom 8:28], "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose." What is confusing and painful today God will work for our good tomorrow if we love Him and stay in tune with His purposes. I have experienced that in my life repeatedly.

So today after a couple of decades of faith walking I know I can trust God. I know with the foresight of faith I can live in peace and not stress. I have learned through experience God will come through just like He did for Moses and Israel through the ten plagues. He will come through for us too.